Stephan Read Online Free PDF Page B

late when I made it
downstairs. When I walked into the kitchen I was surprised to see
Cassie’s dad at the stove and only Cassie at the table, set with
plates, knives, forks, juice and cups.
    “Hi, Jade. I hope you slept okay.” I smiled
at Cassie’s father. I couldn’t tell him I hadn’t. “Yes,
thanks.”
    “Are you hungry? Go sit down. I’m doing
sausages, hash browns, bacon, and eggs.”
    I sat at the table next to Cassie. I wasn’t
really a breakfast person. I sometimes had an apple or a mandarin,
but nothing like what was being offered. “Yes. Could I please have
a hash brown and an egg?”
    “Sure.” He came over with a plate filled with
already cooked food.
    I placed the items on the plate.
    “So what are you girls doing today?”
    I had no idea so I looked to Cassie. “We are
going to go to the beach. It’s such a nice day. A bit cool, but
still hot enough to have a dip and sunbathe.”
    “Sounds good, sweetie. You can take the car.
But your brother asked for it tonight.”
    “Thanks, Dad,” Cassie said. “Derick and
Stephan are having a party tonight we’re going too. Scott said he’d
pick up Stacy and Renee. The others are meeting us there.” Cassie’s
father opened his mouth but Cassie put up her hand to stop what he
was saying.
    “Before you worry, we are going with Scott.
You know the Silverman boys.”
    “Okay. Promise me you’ll call no matter what,
even if you need picking up or just want to leave.”
    Cassie beamed. “Promise.”
    For once in a long time jealousy flowed
through me. I’d never had anyone care about me enough to give me
options like Cassie’s father. The love was obvious between father
and daughter. I hoped Cassie knew how lucky she was to have such
caring parents. I decided I would say something. I hadn’t told
Cassie much about my life before moving here, just the basics like
my mother died and I didn’t have any other relatives beside my
grandpa and I didn’t know my own father. Cassie hadn’t pried much,
she’d been more interested in what my other high school was like
and my friends. I‘d tell her a little bit, enough to understand she
was extremely lucky.
    After eating, we changed into our swimmers.
Cassie grabbed towels, sunscreen, and the keys off the hook by the
front door and we headed for the car. She jumped in the driver's
side and I got in the passenger, chucking the towels and sunscreen
in the back. Cassie started the car and backed out of the drive and
we were heading toward the beach.
    “You’re really lucky you know, to have
parents like you do.”
    Cassie smiled. “I know. My brother’s not too
bad either. What was your mother like?”
    “Not like yours. My mum would never have said
anything like your father did. I don’t think she ever asked where I
was going when I went out. I stayed at friends places and sometimes
didn’t come home for days. She didn’t even seem to notice I was
gone. I remember one time she was dating this guy and they were
both high as kites. He got angry at something she did, probably
stole money from him and he started beating her. When I called the
cops and ambulance, the paramedic asked her a bunch of questions, I
remember her saying she had no children. Another similar time she
did the opposite and screamed I was a slut and no daughter of hers
and went crazy attacking me. The cops pulled her off me.”
    I hadn’t realized the car had stopped. I
shook my head out of memory lane and turned to Cassie, she had
tears rolling down her eyes and she was gripping the steering wheel
so tight her knuckles were white. “I’m glad your mother is dead.
She sounds like a selfish bitch.”
    I flinched at her hard words. They were
harsh. I didn’t hate my mother. I never had anyone else so I didn’t
know what I was missing. It wasn’t until I started staying over at
friends’ houses that I noticed my mother was different.
    Cassie threw herself across the car and
hugged me. I was stiff in her arms. Not many people